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☆ TikTok influencers fear their careers will be destroyed and their work 'deleted forever' as a US ban gains steam
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A new bill would make Chinese-owned ByteDance sell TikTok to a US company or face a nationwide ban. Those who want the app banned argue that TikTok may be forced into giving over user data to the Chinese government. The whole TikTok ban is clearly a tactic to control the narrative." AdvertisementA ban would be "devastating" for her, she said, because years of her work would be "deleted forever." A TikTok spokesperson told Business Insider the legislation has a "predetermined outcome," which is a total ban of TikTok in the US.

Persons: —, TikTok, Shira, aren't, She's, Ben Stanley, hasn't, Tahrea Sherman, Sherman, Catalina Goanta, Goldman Sachs, Goanta Organizations: Service, Energy, Commerce, Google, Utrecht University Locations: Congress, TikTok, Netherlands, Statista

☆ The proposed TikTok ban has been deemed unconstitutional by some, but framing around national security could help advance it
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThe widely-popular social media app TikTok is once again facing a possible ban in the United States over concerns about its links to China. "It is targeted to address the national security threat that we believe these apps, like TikTok, pose to the United States because of its ownership by a foreign adversary." "The First Amendment protects Americans' right to access social media platforms of their choosing," Krishnan said. Former President Donald Trump in Tulsa, Okla. AP Photo/Sue OgrockiTrump once supported a TikTok ban, but is now against itMeanwhile, Trump — whose administration tried to ban TikTok in the US — but was blocked from doing so in court after TikTok sued — has now come out against a ban for the app. "If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business," Trump argued on his social media platform, Truth Social, in a dig at Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Sarah Kreps, TikTok's, weaponize, Steve Scalise, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, McMorris Rodgers, Kreps, ByteDance, Krishnan, TikTok, Sue Ogrocki Trump, Trump, Zuckerschmuck, Mark Zuckerberg, Jenna Leventoff, Leventoff Organizations: Service, Business, Tech, Institute, New York's Cornell University, Foreign, ByteDance Ltd, Republican, GOP, House Energy, Commerce Committee, Fox Business, Columbia University, Columbia Law School, Chinese Communist Party, AP, Facebook, Meta, Commerce, American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Democracy and Technology Locations: United States, China, TikTok's Beijing, New York, Tulsa, Okla, TikTok

☆ TikTok leaders are pretty surprised that a bill to ban TikTok is zooming through Congress: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA bill to ban TikTok in the US is speeding through Congress and has caught the social media platform off guard, The Wall Street Journal reported. A TikTok spokesperson told Business Insider it expects the bill to pass, saying it had a "predetermined outcome." Others, like former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, have also weighed in, expressing their opposition to a TikTok ban. The movement to ban TikTok in the US has been pushed by legislators who believe the company will hand over user data to the Chinese government. AdvertisementIn response to the House bill, TikTok went on the offensive and urged its users to contact their representatives to let them know they opposed it.

Persons: —, Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Joe Biden, Biden, Rand Paul, Lindsay Graham, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Paul, TikTok, Sen, Ed Markey, Bobby Kotick, ByteDance, Zhang Yiming, Kotick, Sam Altman Organizations: Service, Street Journal, Republican Rep, Democratic Rep, Business, House Energy, Commerce, Senate, Associated Press, Elon, Google, Big Tech, Activision, Journal, Kotick, BI Locations: Wisconsin, Illinois, United States, TikTok

☆ TikTokers are enthusiastically joining the app's call to wage war on Congress over a potential ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The proposed bill would force ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a nationwide ban. AdvertisementTikTokers have enthusiastically answered the app's call to bombard members of Congress with calls and messages in an effort to prevent the platform from being banned in the US. AdvertisementA TikTok spokesperson told Business Insider the legislation has a "predetermined outcome," which is a total ban of TikTok in the US. The state of Montana, for instance, banned TikTok entirely in 2023. An increasing number of states have also made the decision to ban TikTok on government-issued devices.

Persons: ByteDance, —, TikTokers, Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Trump, TikTok, Jamaal Bowman, Ben Stanley, Mary Miller, Shira, Meta Organizations: Service, Republican Rep, Democratic Rep, Energy, Commerce, New, YouTube, Centre for Digital Citizens, Northumbria University, Facebook, Universal Music Group Locations: Wisconsin, Illinois, Montana, Austin, China, Cambridge, Brexit

☆ Wait, is America actually banning TikTok now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Washington CNN —House lawmakers are moving with dizzying speed with a plan that could ban TikTok from the United States. But could a TikTok ban really happen? A man walks past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video sharing app TikTok, in Beijing. They allege TikTok poses a national security threat because the Chinese government could use its intelligence laws against ByteDance, forcing it to hand over the data of US TikTok users. By that precedent, it would be unconstitutional for the government to ban TikTok even if it were blatantly a direct mouthpiece for the Chinese government, Jaffer said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Greg Baker, Biden, —, “, ” TikTok, Donald Trump, Trump, ByteDance, Mark Zuckerberg, TikTok, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, ” Biden, Joint Base Andrews, it’s, Washington Sen, Maria Cantwell, ” Cantwell, ”, Jenna Leventoff, Ken White, Brown White, Osborn, White, It’s, Jameel Jaffer, Jaffer Organizations: Washington CNN —, White, Biden —, Apple, Google, House Energy, Commerce, Trump, Facebook, Republican, Biden, Wisconsin Republican, Joint Base, Senate, CNN, American Civil Liberties Union, Columbia University Locations: United States, China, ByteDance, Beijing, AFP, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Washington

☆ House committee unanimously supports forcing TikTok divestiture
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Emily Wilkins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A bipartisan panel of lawmakers unanimously approved a controversial bill on Thursday that could lead to TikTok being blocked in the U.S. if it doesn't break with Chinese parent ByteDance. The committee voted 50-0 to advance the bill to the full House or Representatives. On the app, they were greeted with a screenshot warning them that Congress was "planning a total ban of TikTok." "Today, it's about our bill and it's about intimidating members considering that bill," said Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wi., chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. WATCH: Biden campaign joins TikTok despite ban of app on government phones

Persons: TikTok, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Lawmakers, Mike Gallagher, Biden Organizations: U.S, Lawmakers, Energy, Commerce Committee, National Security, American Civil Liberties Union, Computer & Communications Industry Association, Center for Democracy & Technology, CNBC, Chinese Communist Party Locations: U.S, ByteDance, China

☆ TikTok: House panel unanimously approves bill that could ban app from US app stores
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

If enacted, the bill would give ByteDance 165 days, or a little more than five months, to sell TikTok. The legislation also has the support of the White House and House Speaker Mike Johnson. House lawmakers voted unanimously in the same session Thursday to advance a second bill, one that would limit US companies’ ability to sell Americans’ personal information to foreign adversaries. Speaking to reporters on the Capitol steps Thursday, Gallagher rejected characterizations of the bill as a TikTok ban. A legislative factsheet from the sponsors of the House bill claims the proposal does not censor speech.

Persons: ”, TikTok, Shou Chew, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Frank Pallone, “, ” Pallone, Shou Zi Chew, Jose Luis Magana, Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Washington Sen, Maria Cantwell, ” Cantwell, Gallagher, “ It’s, Dan Crenshaw, It’s, ” Crenshaw, snoop, ByteDance, Trump, Tom Williams, —, “ We’re, Jenna Leventoff, Stephanie Joyce, ” CNN’s Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona Organizations: Washington CNN, TikTok, House Energy, Commerce, Apple, Google, “, Washington Republican, New, New Jersey Rep, Capitol, Wisconsin Republican, Illinois Democratic Rep, White, Senate, Democratic, Washington, CNN, Chinese Communist Party, Texas Republican, Oracle, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, Computer and Communications Industry Association, Foreign Locations: China, New Jersey, Washington, United States, Beijing, State, Rayburn, Montana

☆ U.S. lawmakers push for ByteDance to divest TikTok or face ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation on Tuesday to give China's ByteDance about six months to divest popular short video app TikTok or face a U.S. ban, seeking to tackle national security concerns about its Chinese ownership. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesA bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation on Tuesday to give China's ByteDance about six months to divest popular short video app TikTok or face a U.S. ban, seeking to tackle national security concerns about its Chinese ownership. The bill is the first significant legislative move in nearly a year toward banning or forcing ByteDance to divest the popular app, after senate legislation to ban it stalled in Congress last year in the face of heavy lobbying by TikTok. The bill would give ByteDance 165 days to divest TikTok, which is used by more than 170 million Americans, or make it unlawful for app stores run by Apple , Google and others to offer TikTok or provide web hosting services to apps controlled by ByteDance. "This bill is an outright ban of TikTok, no matter how much the authors try to disguise it," a company spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Persons: ByteDance, Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Gallagher, Biden, TikTok, Cathy McMorris Rodgers Organizations: Representatives, Chinese Communist Party, Apple, Google, National Security, American Civil Liberties Union, Energy, Commerce Locations: U.S, China, United States, TikTok

☆ N.T.S.B. Says Boeing Has Not Provided Key Information in 737 Max Inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Mark Walker | More About Mark Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board told a Senate committee on Wednesday that Boeing was dragging its feet in providing some information to the agency as it investigates what caused a door panel to come off an Alaska Airlines plane during a flight in January. Boeing has a team of 25 employees and a manager who handle doors at the Renton plant, Ms. Homendy told the Senate committee. The manager has been on medical leave, and the agency had been unable to interview that person, Ms. Homendy said. She added that Boeing had not provided the safety board with the names of the other 25 employees. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Jennifer Homendy, Homendy, ” Organizations: National Transportation Safety Board, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Senate Commerce Committee Locations: Alaska, Boeing’s, Renton, Wash

The tool is derived from another AI image-generator, DALL-E 3, made by Microsoft's close business partner OpenAI. His letter to Microsoft urges the company to take it off the market until it is safer. “Many of the issues with Copilot Designer are already addressed with ChatGPT's own safeguards,” he said via text. A number of impressive AI image-generators first came on the scene in 2022, including the second generation of OpenAI's DALL-E 2. Google has temporarily suspended its Gemini chatbot's ability to generate images of people following outrage over how it was depicting race and ethnicity, such as by putting people of color in Nazi-era military uniforms.

Persons: Shane Jones, Jones, Microsoft's, OpenAI, ”, Lina Khan, “, OpenAI's DALL, ChatGPT — Organizations: Microsoft, Associated Press, U.S, Senate, Federal Trade Commission, CNBC, Senate's, Google Locations: “, Washington

“The FAA identified non-compliance issues in Boeing’s manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control,” the FAA said in a press release, but did not immediately provide further details. The FAA said the findings of both this audit and the separate report should be part of Boeing’s quality improvement plan. But in January Boeing CEO David Calhoun conceded Boeing needed to improve its quality controls. Without giving details, the FAA said it found multiple instances where both companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements. The agency is not the only government body looking into Boeing’s quality issues.

Persons: David Calhoun, ”, Calhoun, “, Mike Whitaker, Jennifer Homendy Organizations: Washington DC CNN, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines ’ Boeing, FAA, Boeing, Spirit, Max, National Transportation Safety, Alaska Air, NTSB, Justice Department, Alaska, Senate Locations: Renton , Washington

Former President Donald J. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, has repeatedly attacked central elements of the Inflation Reduction Act, including tax credits for purchasing electric vehicles. “Otherwise it’s all going to be on the chopping block.”The Inflation Reduction Act contains various tax credits and other subsidies to incentivize companies to deploy more clean energy projects. It also includes tax breaks for consumers to offset the cost of electric vehicles, heat pumps and other energy-efficient appliances. That could cut the number of eligible vehicles, potentially hindering progress toward the Biden administration’s goal of having electric vehicles make up half of new car sales by 2030. The estimated cost of the Inflation Reduction Act’s energy incentives has effectively doubled since it passed, largely because forecasters believe the legislation will be more popular than they originally expected.

Persons: Biden, Donald J, Trump, “ We’ve, Frank Pallone Jr, Thomas Pyle, ’, Pyle, Kevin Book, Sean Rayford, ” Mr, John Ketchum, Ketchum, “ It’s, Mr, Sasha Mackler, David Carroll, we’ve, Carroll, T.J . Kirkpatrick, ” Michael Kikukawa, Lori Esposito Murray, Ms, Murray, Jeanna Smialek Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Company, Biden, House Energy, Commerce, American Energy Alliance, ClearView Energy Partners, The New York Times, NextEra Energy, Republicans, Center, Engie, White, Economic Development, Conference Board, “ Locations: States, China, New Hampshire, America, Indiana, Texas, Irvine , Calif

CNN —House Republicans were shocked by some of the recent high-profile retirements announced by their colleagues, which have included powerful committee chairs and rising stars inside the GOP. And on the Energy and Commerce Committee alone – a highly sought-after assignment – there are eight Republicans who are retiring. “So, yeah, I’m very worried about it.”Others, however, said the turnover is completely normal, especially since the House GOP has self-imposed term limits for chairs, which they argued allows them to inject new blood into the ranks. We probably need a few more retirements.”McCarthy – who resigned at the end of last year – suggested that was perhaps the goal of hard-liners like Good and GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida who voted to oust him. It’s just a number of things piling up,” said House Science Committee Chair Frank Lucas, reflecting on the retirements.

Persons: “ They’ve, we’re, ”, Ken Buck, Don Bacon of Nebraska, ” Bacon, Carlos Gimenez, Kevin McCarthy, “, it’s, –, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Mike Gallagher of, Alejandro Mayorkas, Greg Pence, Pfluger, Tom Cole, I’ve, I’m, Bob Good, ” Good, ” McCarthy –, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, ” McCarthy, Frank Lucas, Mark Green of, Debbie Lesko of, McCarthy, ” Lesko, can’t, Brian Fitzpatrick, Steve Womack, Donald, Trump, Kelly Armstrong of, ’, Erin Houchin, Patrick McHenry of, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, CNN, GOP, Energy, impeaching Homeland, Commerce, Indiana, Republicans, Congress, Capitol, ”, House Homeland Security Committee, Representatives, Financial Locations: Ken Buck of Colorado, Carlos Gimenez of Florida, Washington, China, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Texas, Congress, Florida, Mark Green of Tennessee, Debbie Lesko of Arizona, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, New York, Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota, Erin Houchin of Indiana, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina

What makes the retirements particularly noteworthy is that none of the chairs were at risk of losing their position due to the term limits that House Republicans impose on their committee leaders. “They would clearly rather be home with their family than in Washington with a dysfunctional Congress,” said Republican strategist Doug Heye. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesThe second retirement announcement came from the new chair of a special committee focused on China. Lucas, who chairs the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, said he's not considering stepping down any time soon. Heye, the Republican strategist, said the retirements of McMorris Rodgers, Green and Gallagher wouldn't make sense in normal times.

Persons: ”, Doug Heye, “, ” McMorris Rodgers, Billy Tauzin, Henry Waxman, Gallagher, Alejandro Mayorkas, Green, ” Green, McMorris Rodgers, she's, I've, ” Gallagher, Frank Lucas, ” Lucas, “ It's, there's, they're, Lucas, he's, Don Young, ‘ Lucas, Byron Donalds, “ We're, ” Donalds, Pete Aguilar, Gallagher “, ” Aguilar, Richard Hudson, ” “ I'm, ” Hudson, Heye, ” Heye Organizations: WASHINGTON, GOP, Energy, Commerce, impeaching, Fox, Electoral, Wednesday, Homeland Security Committee, Science, Technology, Rep, House Democratic Caucus, Republicans, Republican, House Republican, Democratic, “ Locations: Washington, China, Wisconsin, Alaska

Wayne said that has been the case in his district, where an Ohio corporation has bought more than 150 single-family homes in recent years — often pushing out individual homebuyers with all-cash offers. Wayne's bill offers few specifics. It consists of a single sentence that says a corporation, hedge fund or other business may not buy purchase single-family housing in Nebraska unless it's located in and its principal members live in Nebraska. Currently, about 13% of single-family homes in Lincoln are owned by out-of-state corporate firms, he said. As in other states, Wayne's bill likely faces an uphill slog in the deep red state of Nebraska.

Persons: Sen, Justin Wayne’s, Wayne, it's, ” Wayne, isn't, Wayne Mortensen, Lincoln, Mortensen, ” Mortensen, Omaha Sen, Brad von Gillern, “, ” Organizations: Control, American Homes, Democratic, Banking, Insurance, Commerce Locations: Nebraska, Omaha, Ohio, Minnesota , Indiana, North Carolina, Texas, Lincoln

☆ AI could disrupt the 2024 US presidential election. What’s Congress doing about it?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But with just nine months until Americans head to the ballot box, there are few signs Congress is ready to pass any meaningful legislation on AI. Alex Wong/Getty ImagesSchumer has previously said that with the election nearing, he may seek to fast-track a bill that focuses specifically on AI and election security. Nothing looks likely to move.”Initial momentum on AI regulationFor months, Congress has focused on getting up to speed on the basics of AI. Still other ideas would require “high-risk” AI models to register for a government license, or create a dedicated new federal agency to oversee AI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testifies before a Senate Judiciary Privacy, Technology & the Law Subcommittee hearing titled 'Oversight of A.I.

Persons: Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, “, Schumer, Sen, Todd Young, Martin Heinrich, Michael Rounds, Alex Wong, New Mexico Democratic Sen, South Dakota Republican Sen, Mike Rounds, Indiana Republican Sen, didn’t, Paul Gallant, Cowen, ”, Gallant, we’re, Sam Altman, Altman, Heinrich, Rounds, Young, Julia Nikhinson, Sundar Pichai, Jensen Huang, Mike Johnson, Marcus Molinaro, Johnson, Drake, Tom Hanks, Tennessee Republican Sen, Marsha Blackburn, Hakeem Jeffries, Don Beyer, it’ll, Alan Davidson, Biden, Elizabeth Frantz, ” Davidson, —, Sarah Myers West Organizations: Washington CNN, mayoral, U.S, Senate, Capitol, Artificial Intelligence, “, CNN, New, New Mexico Democratic, South Dakota Republican, Indiana Republican, Cowen Inc, United, International Atomic Energy Agency, Intelligence, Reuters, Google, Nvidia, New York Republican, The Washington Post, Commerce, Tennessee Republican, ITI, Virginia Democratic Rep, State of, Republican, House Energy, European Union, EU, Congress, Commerce Department, White House, Privacy, Technology, Democrats, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Washington ,, New Mexico, South, Washington , U.S, Washington

☆ Republican Who Oversaw Mayorkas Impeachment Will Not Seek Re-election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Representative Mark Green, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, announced on Wednesday that he would not run for re-election, just a day after the Tennessee Republican oversaw the impeachment of Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary. Mr. Green, a deeply conservative former Army Ranger medic who was elected in 2018, said that he had accomplished what he had come to Washington to do. “At the start of the 118th Congress, I promised my constituents to pass legislation to secure our borders and to hold Secretary Mayorkas accountable,” Mr. Green said in a statement. 2 and Secretary Mayorkas impeached, it is time for me to return home.”Mr. Green, 59, is the third committee chairman who would have been eligible to lead their panel next year to say they will leave Congress at the end of the year. Also this week, Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, 54, the chairwoman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, 39, who heads the select committee on China, announced they would not run for re-election.

Persons: Mark Green, Alejandro N, . Green, Mayorkas, Mr, Green, ” Mr, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Mike Gallagher of Organizations: Homeland Security Committee, Tennessee Republican, Army, 118th, Energy, Commerce Committee Locations: Washington, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, China

☆ Premarket stocks: Blue chips are crumbling. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Blue chip stocks have long been synonymous with stability and reliability. Named for the most valuable poker chips, these stocks supposedly represent the crème de la crème of the corporate world, companies like Disney, General Motors and Verizon. Known for their strong financial foundations, longevity, and a healthy flow of dividends, blue chip stocks have long been the go-to for investors seeking steady returns. Their values have surged so high that they’ve been buoying the broader market even as many blue chips have struggled. The problem is that despite being included in blue chip ETF indexes, companies like Nvidia and Tesla aren’t truly blue chip stocks, George Pearkes, an analyst at Bespoke, told CNN.

Persons: Tesla, ”, Henry Allen, George Pearkes, Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, Linda Yaccarino, Evan Spiegel, Jason Citron, Read, Brian Fung, Joe Biden, Frank Pallone Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Disney, General Motors, Verizon, Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Investment, Nasdaq, Big Tech, Deutsche Bank, Tesla, Target, Pfizer, Nike, Charter Communications, CNN, Tech, —, House Democrats, New, New Hampshire voters, YouMail, House Energy, Commerce Locations: New York, DC, —, New Hampshire

☆ Lawmakers want U.S. to probe four Chinese firms involved in Ford battery plant — letter
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company, announces at a press conference that Ford will be partnering with the world's largest battery company, a China-based company called Contemporary Amperex Technology, to create an electric-vehicle battery plant in Marshall, Michigan, on February 13, 2023 in Romulus, Michigan. The chairs of two U.S. House committees asked the Biden administration to investigate four Chinese companies they say are involved in Ford Motor's planned Michigan battery plant, according to a letter seen Monday by Reuters. The previously unreported letter said the four Chinese companies have direct ties to the Chinese military, Chinese Communist Party, North Korean government and alleged human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region. The plant has drawn fire from U.S. lawmakers for its use of technology supplied by Chinese battery maker CATL. The Chinese companies were not named in the letter seen by Reuters because the committees reviewed confidential records turned over by Ford and were not allowed to make their identities public.

Persons: Bill Ford, Biden, Ford, Mike Gallagher, Cathy McMorris Rodgers Organizations: Ford Motor Company, Ford, Technology, Reuters, Chinese Communist Party, North, Energy, Commerce, Commerce Department Locations: China, Marshall , Michigan, Romulus , Michigan, Ford Motor's, Michigan, North Korean, China's Xinjiang, U.S

☆ House Democrats propose crackdown on fake, AI-generated robocalls
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The number of robocalls placed in the US peaked at around 58.5 billion in 2019, according to estimates by YouMail, a robocall blocking service. For all robocalls, including those Americans have authorized from their bank or doctor’s office, any use of AI would have to be disclosed under the proposed law. But even as officials have gained some ground on unwanted robocalls, those making the calls are increasingly turning to new technologies such as artificial intelligence to stay a step ahead. It would also seek to force phone providers to offer free robocall-blocking services to consumers and require the FCC to maintain a public list of the top 100 illegal robocall campaigns. Other Democratic co-sponsors of the legislation include Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky, California Rep. Doris Matsui, Florida Rep. Darren Soto and Illinois Rep. Eric Sorensen.

Persons: Joe Biden, Frank Pallone, Pallone, ” Pallone, Jan Schakowsky, Doris Matsui, Darren Soto, Eric Sorensen Organizations: Washington CNN, House Democrats, New, New Hampshire voters, YouMail, CNN, House Energy, Commerce, Federal Communications Commission, Regulators, Industry, FCC, Federal Trade Commission, Democratic, Illinois, California Rep Locations: New Hampshire, California, Florida

☆ Before part of an Alaska Airlines plane blew off, Boeing had removed and adjusted it, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems are under multiple investigations that probe their safety policies and procedures. Boeing said it couldn’t comment on the reports about what may have led to the door plug blowing off the plane, citing the ongoing investigation. The process also includes tightening fasteners and performing “detailed inspections of…dozens of associated components.”FAA on Sunday also required airlines to ensure older Boeing 737 planes with similar door plugs were secure. The FAA said airlines operating the Boeing 737-900ER model should visually inspect the planes but didn’t require them to be grounded. Two Max variants — the Max 7 and the Max 10 — are still awaiting approval to begin carrying passengers.

Persons: Max, AeroSystems, Washington Democratic Sen, Maria Cantwell, ”, David Calhoun, Jennifer Homendy, Ben Minicucci, Lester Holt, Mike Whitaker, Whitaker, “, —, Wells Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, New York Times, Seattle Times, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety, Washington Democratic, Senate, US National Transportation, ” Boeing, Max, NBC, FAA, ., Sunday Locations: New York, . Airlines, Alaska, United, Indonesia, Ethiopia

New York CNN —Boeing CEO David Calhoun’s Wednesday was decidedly a mixed bag: The Federal Aviation Administration finally approved a set of inspection criteria for the 171 grounded 737 Max 9 planes that, if followed, could return the aircraft to service. And the FAA said it would not grant any production expansion of the 737 Max lineup while its safety probe of Boeing continues. “We fly safe planes,” Calhoun said to reporters assembled on Capitol Hill. A week earlier, Calhoun acknowledged the company made a “mistake” at a staff-wide safety meeting, but he did not specify what that mistake was. Two Max variants — the Max 7 and the Max 10 — are still awaiting approval to begin carrying passengers.

Persons: David Calhoun’s, Max, Mike Whitaker, United, Whitaker, ”, “, Mr, Calhoun, ” Calhoun, Washington Democratic Sen, Maria Cantwell, ” Cantwell, Jennifer Homendy, —, Wells Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Alaska Airlines, Airlines, Washington Calhoun’s, Washington, Capitol, Washington Democratic, Senate, National Transportation Safety Locations: New York, Alaska, United, Washington, Wells, Indonesia, Ethiopia

☆ Boeing Faces Backlash From Airline Chiefs
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Bernhard Warner | More About Bernhard Warner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Airline bosses on both sides of the Atlantic are lashing out at Boeing over a number of recent safety and production issues — loose bolts, a discarded wrench found under the floorboards, delayed shipments — as the crisis over the aircraft maker’s 737 Max 9 shows little sign of ending soon. Boeing’s stock has fallen nearly 15 percent since Jan. 5, when a door plug flew off a Max 9 during an Alaska Airlines flight shortly after takeoff. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded some Max 9 jets until they were inspected and said it would investigate whether Boeing failed to ensure that the plane was safe. (Here’s an explanation from The New York Times about how the door panel may have flown off that Alaska plane.) Ms. Cantwell said last week that she planned to hold hearings on the Max 9 groundings.

Persons: Max, Dave Calhoun, Maria Cantwell, Cantwell, groundings Organizations: Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, New York Times, Washington Democrat, Commerce Locations: Alaska, Washington

☆ US House Committee says China delayed releasing COVID-19 information for weeks and lied about sharing it immediately
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China had a gene sequence of COVID-19 weeks before sharing it with the world, US lawmakers said. AdvertisementChina likely obtained COVID-19's first known gene sequence weeks before publicly releasing it, contrary to Beijing's claim that it immediately shared the information, the US House Energy & Commerce Committee said on Wednesday. Related storiesThe committee said this contradicted China's repeated claims that it released the gene sequence as soon as it obtained the information. The House committee said this example shows that China has been forthcoming with sharing vital medical information for fighting COVID-19. AdvertisementThe committee also raised concerns that the NIH had received a COVID-19 gene sequence but "apparently had no idea."

Persons: —, Lili Ren, Ren, China's, Biden, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Morgan Griffith, Brett Guthrie Organizations: Service, US, Energy, Commerce, National Institutes of Health, EcoHealth Alliance, of Health, Human Services, World Health Organization, CCP, NIH, HHS, Energy & Commerce Committee, Oversight, Rep Locations: China, Washington, Virginia, Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, Washington , DC

The panel that blew out of an Alaska Airlines jetliner this month was manufactured in Malaysia by Boeing’s leading supplier, the head of the agency investigating the incident said Wednesday. The officials indicated that their separate investigations of Boeing and the accident are in the early stages. Boeing said CEO David Calhoun visited the Wichita factory of Spirit AeroSystems, which makes a large part of the fuselage on Boeing Max jets and installs the part that came off an Alaska Airlines jetliner. An Alaska Airlines Max 9 was forced to make an emergency landing on Jan. 5 after a panel called a door plug blew out of the side of the plane shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon. The NTSB is investigating the accident, while the FAA investigates whether Boeing and its suppliers followed quality-control procedures.

Persons: Jennifer Homendy, Spirit AeroSystems, AeroSystems, “, Mike Whitaker, ”, Sen, Jerry Moran, Moran, Whitaker, ” Moran, David Calhoun, Patrick Shanahan —, Donald Trump, —, “ We’re, ” Calhoun, Max Organizations: Alaska Airlines, Boeing’s, National Transportation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, Max, Senate, Kansas Republican, FAA, Boeing Max, Pentagon, Alaska Airlines Max, NTSB, United Airlines, Dow Jones Locations: Malaysia, Washington, Wichita , Kansas, Kansas, Wichita, Calhoun, Portland , Oregon, Alaska, United, Arlington , Virginia

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